Spanish government departments

The Spanish government departments, commonly known as Ministries, are the main bodies through which the Government of Spain exercise its executive authority. They are also the top level of the General State Administration. The ministerial departments and their organization are created by Royal Decree signed by the Monarch and the Prime Minister and all of them are headed by a Cabinet member called Minister.

Although the main organization is established by the Premier, the ministers have autonomy to organize its own department and to appoint the high-ranking officials of the ministries. It exists the possibility of ministers without portfolio, which are minister-level officials entrusted with a specific task and that do not head a department.

As of 2024, there are currently 22 ministerial departments.

Ministers

The Ministers or Government Ministers (historically Ministers of the Crown) are, after the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers, the highest officials of the State Administration and together they form the Government of the Nation, which main decision-making-body is the Council of Ministers.

Appointment and dismissal

The ministers are appointed and dismissed by the Monarch at the proposal of the Prime Minister.^[1]

Both appointment and dismissal, to be effective, must to be published at the Official State Gazette, although exists some specific cases, previous to the approval of the 1997 Government Act, which dismissal was not published. Those cases are Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado, minister without portfolio between 1976 and 1977 and Francisco Fernández Ordóñez, minister of Justice from 1980 to 1981.^[2]

Unlike the portfolio ministers, the dismissal of ministers without portfolio entails the extinction of all the ministerial structure that supports them.

Responsibilities

According to the Government Act, the ministers, as heads of their departments, have competence and responsibility in the specific sphere of their actions, and they are responsible for exercising the following functions:^[1]

To develop the action of the Government within the scope of their departments, in accordance with the agreements adopted in the Council of Ministers or with the orders of the Prime Minister.
To exercise the regulatory power in the specific matters of their departments.
To exercise the powers attributed to them by laws, the rules of organization and functioning of the Government and any other norm.
To countersign, when necessary, the acts of the Sovereign in the sphere of its responsibilities.

The ministers, as members of the Government, meet in the following collective bodies:

The Council of Ministers.
The Government Delegated Committees.

Substitutions

The substitution of the ministers must be determined by a Royal Decree of the Prime Minister, and always has to fall on another member of the Government. The Royal Decree must express the cause and character of the substitution.^[1]

Since the entry into force of the Government Act in December 1997, substitutions have taken place on many occasions, either to assume the portfolio temporarily or to replace a minister in a specific matter. The substitution for "delivery" of the minister of Defense Carme Chacón in May 2008. She used her right to maternity leave and her responsibilities were temporary assumed by the Interior Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba.^[3]

Minister without portfolio

These have been the ministers without portfolio that have existed since the transition to democracy:^[2]

Portfolio	Name and term
Deputy Minister for the Regions	Manuel Clavero Arévalo (4 July 1977 - 5 April 1979)
Deputy Minister for Relations with the Cortes	Ignacio Camuñas Solís (4 July 1977 - 29 September 1977) Rafael Arias-Salgado y Montalvo (5 April 1979 - 17 January 1980)
Minister for Relations with the European Communities	Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo (10 February 1978 - 8 September 1980) Eduardo Punset (8 September 1980 - 26 February 1981)
Minister attached to the Prime Minister	Joaquín Garrigues Walker (5 April 1979 - 2 May 1980) Rafael Arias-Salgado y Montalvo (17 January 1980 - 2 May 1980) Pío Cabanillas Gallas (8 September 1980 - 26 February 1981) Jaime Lamo de Espinosa (1 December 1981 - 29 July 1982)
Deputy Minister for Public Administration	Sebastián Martín-Retortillo (2 May 1980 - 26 February 1981)
Deputy Minister for Legislative Coordination	Juan Antonio Ortega y Díaz-Ambrona (2 May 1980 - 8 September 1980)
Minister-Spokesperson of the Government	Pío Cabanillas Alonso (27 April 2000^[4] - 10 July 2002^[5])

Internal organization

Ministries may have Secretariats of State and, exceptionally, General Secretariats (with rank of undersecretariat) for the management of a sector of administrative activity. The executive bodies that are assigned to them are hierarchically dependent on them. The ministries have, in any case, an Undersecretariat and, depending on it, a General Technical Secretariat for the management of common services (HR, budget, assets, websites, security...).

On the other hand are the Directorates-General, which are the management bodies of one or several functionally homogeneous areas. The directorates-general are organized in deputy directorates-general for the management of the competences entrusted to it. However, deputy directorates-general may be directly attached to other higher level management bodies or to higher bodies of the ministry.^[6]

Creation, modification and suppression

Before of the approval of the 1997 Government Act, the Ministries and Secretariats of State had to be created by law, normally by a direct law passed by the Government in the form of Royal Decree-Law. After, the Government Act allowed the Prime Minister to approve a Royal Decree (secondary legislation) designing the government structure.

Currently, the Prime Minister only creates the Ministries and some of the highest bodies (like secretariats of State and Undersecretariats) while the principal internal organization is delegated into the ministers, which develop the structure of the bodies created by the Premier or create new ones. The order of the Minister is also a royal decree signed the Monarch and countersigned by the minister responsible for the public administration at the proposal of the competent minister.

The lowest bodies such as deputy directorates-general are created by a Ministerial Order (ranked below the royal decree) of the competent minister.^[6]

Hierarchy

The ministers are the superior heads of the department and direct hierarchical superiors of the secretaries of State. The executive bodies depend on the previous ones and they are hierarchically ordered among themselves in the following way: undersecretary, director general and deputy director general. The general secretaries have the rank of undersecretary and the technical general secretaries have the rank of director general.

Ministerial hierarchy:^[6]

Minister.
- Secretaries of State.
  - Undersecretaries and General Secretaries.
    - Directors general and technical general secretaries.
      - Deputy directors general.

Current ministries

The current Cabinet —the third government of Pedro Sánchez— was sworn in by King Felipe VI on 21 November 2023.^[7]

Portfolio	Minister	First creation	Address	Budget (2024)^[8]	Website
Office of the Prime Minister		1834	Puerta de Hierro Avenue, Madrid	€134 million	www.lamoncloa.gob.es
Office of the Prime Minister	Pedro Sánchez	1834	Puerta de Hierro Avenue, Madrid	€134 million	www.lamoncloa.gob.es
Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAUEC)		1714	1 Province Square, Madrid	€2,193 million	www.exteriores.gob.es
Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAUEC)	José Manuel Albares	1714	1 Province Square, Madrid	€2,193 million	www.exteriores.gob.es
Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes (MPJRC)		1714 (Justice) 1974 (Presidency)	Justice: 45 San Bernardo Street, Madrid Presidency: Puerta de Hierro Avenue, Madrid	€2,936 million	www.mjusticia.gob.es www.mpr.gob.es
Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes (MPJRC)	Félix Bolaños	1714 (Justice) 1974 (Presidency)		€2,936 million	www.mjusticia.gob.es www.mpr.gob.es
Defence (MINISDEF)		1714	109 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€14,058 million	www.defensa.gob.es
Defence (MINISDEF)	Margarita Robles	1714	109 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€14,058 million	www.defensa.gob.es
Finance (MH)		1714	5 Alcalá Street, Madrid	€21,657 million	www.hacienda.gob.es
Finance (MH)	María Jesús Montero	1714	5 Alcalá Street, Madrid	€21,657 million	www.hacienda.gob.es
Interior (MIR)		1812	7 Amador de los Ríos Street, Madrid	€11,358 million	www.interior.gob.es
Interior (MIR)	Fernando Grande-Marlaska	1812	7 Amador de los Ríos Street, Madrid	€11,358 million	www.interior.gob.es
Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MITMS)		1847	67 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€14,952 million	www.transportes.gob.es
Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MITMS)	Óscar Puente	1847	67 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€14,952 million	www.transportes.gob.es
Education, Vocational Training and Sports (MEFPD)		1900	34 Alcalá Street, Madrid	€6,386 million	www.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es
Education, Vocational Training and Sports (MEFPD)	Pilar Alegría	1900	34 Alcalá Street, Madrid	€6,386 million	www.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es
Labour and Social Economy (MITES)		1920	63 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€29,473 million	www.mitramiss.gob.es
Labour and Social Economy (MITES)	Yolanda Díaz	1920	63 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€29,473 million	www.mitramiss.gob.es
Industry and Tourism (MINTUR)		1928	160 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€10,115 million	www.mintur.gob.es
Industry and Tourism (MINTUR)	Jordi Hereu	1928	160 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€10,115 million	www.mintur.gob.es
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA)		1933	1 Paseo de la Infanta Isabel, Madrid	€8,970 million	www.mapa.gob.es
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA)	Luis Planas	1933	1 Paseo de la Infanta Isabel, Madrid	€8,970 million	www.mapa.gob.es
Health (MISAN)		1936	18 Paseo del Prado, Madrid	€2,746 million	www.sanidad.gob.es
Health (MISAN)	Mónica García	1936	18 Paseo del Prado, Madrid	€2,746 million	www.sanidad.gob.es
Housing and Urban Agenda (MIVAU)		1957	67 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€3,481 million	www.mivau.gob.es
Housing and Urban Agenda (MIVAU)	Isabel Rodríguez	1957	67 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€3,481 million	www.mivau.gob.es
Economy, Trade and Business (MINECO)		1977	162 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€9,758 million	www.mineco.gob.es
Economy, Trade and Business (MINECO)	Carlos Cuerpo	1977	162 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€9,758 million	www.mineco.gob.es
Culture (MC)		1977	1 King's Square, Madrid	€1,703 million	www.culturaydeporte.gob.es
Culture (MC)	Ernest Urtasun	1977	1 King's Square, Madrid	€1,703 million	www.culturaydeporte.gob.es
Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory (MPTMD)		1979	3 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€589 million	www.seat.mpr.gob.es
Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory (MPTMD)	Ángel Víctor Torres	1979	3 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€589 million	www.seat.mpr.gob.es
Science, Universities and Innovation (MICIU)		1979	162 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€8,211 million	www.ciencia.gob.es
Science, Universities and Innovation (MICIU)	Diana Morant	1979	162 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€8,211 million	www.ciencia.gob.es
Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda (MDSCA)		1988	18 Paseo del Prado, Madrid	€1,760 million	www.mdsocialesa2030.gob.es
Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda (MDSCA)	Pablo Bustinduy	1988	18 Paseo del Prado, Madrid	€1,760 million	www.mdsocialesa2030.gob.es
Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO)		1996	San Juan de la Cruz Square, Madrid	€8,877 million	www.miteco.gob.es
Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO)	Teresa Ribera	1996	San Juan de la Cruz Square, Madrid	€8,877 million	www.miteco.gob.es
Equality (MI)		2008	37 Alcalá Street, Madrid	€573 million	www.igualdad.gob.es
Equality (MI)	Ana Redondo García	2008	37 Alcalá Street, Madrid	€573 million	www.igualdad.gob.es
Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (MISSM)		2020	39 José Abascal Street, Madrid	€204,813 million	www.inclusion.gob.es
Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (MISSM)	Elma Saiz	2020	39 José Abascal Street, Madrid	€204,813 million	www.inclusion.gob.es
Digital Transformation and Civil Service (MTDFP)		2023	162 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€7,498 million	www.digital.gob.es
Digital Transformation and Civil Service (MTDFP)	José Luis Escrivá	2023	162 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid	€7,498 million	www.digital.gob.es
Youth and Children (MIJUI)		2023	18 Paseo del Prado, Madrid	€203 million
Youth and Children (MIJUI)	Sira Rego	2023	18 Paseo del Prado, Madrid	€203 million

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Gobierno [Government] (Ley 50/1997) (in Spanish). Vol. 285. 27 November 1997. pp. 35082–35088 – via BOE.
^ ^a ^b Urquijo Goitia, José Ramón. "Juan Carlos I". Relación cronológica de gabinetes. Diccionario Biográfico de Ministros (in Spanish). Instituto de Historia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
^ Burnett, Victoria (20 May 2008). "Spanish defense minister begins maternity leave". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
^ Por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno [By which Government Ministers are appointed] (Real Decreto 561/2000) (in Spanish). Vol. 102. 27 April 2000. p. 16448 – via BOE.
^ Por el que se modifica la estructura orgánica del Ministerio de la Presidencia [By which the organic structure of the Ministry of the Presidency is modified] (Real Decreto 776/2002) (in Spanish). Vol. 179. 26 July 2002. pp. 27814–27816 – via BOE.
^ ^a ^b ^c Régimen Jurídico del Sector Público [Legal Regime of the Public Sector Act] (Ley 40/2015) (in Spanish). Vol. 236. 1 October 2015. pp. 89411–89530 – via BOE.
^ "España | Sánchez se rodea de su núcleo duro para la nueva legislatura". euronews (in Spanish). 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
^ Jefatura del Estado (2022-12-24), Ley 31/2022, de 23 de diciembre, de Presupuestos Generales del Estado para el año 2023 (in Spanish), pp. 180551–181414, retrieved 2023-01-06